Testing-lamp and fuse-testing device.



C. W. MITCHELL. TESTING LAMP AND FUSE TESTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1912.

1,109,450, Patented m1111914'.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

4 WITNESSES INVENTOR atfm.

C. W. MITCHELL.

TESTING LAMP AND FUSE TESTING DEVICE.,

ABELIQATION FILED MAY e. 1m.v 1 l 09,450.

Patented Sept.1,1914.

Y uwENroR monmsrs 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CHARLES W. MITCHELL, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AssieNoza or oNE-HALF To CHARLES W.

LANSING, 0F BRGOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TESTING-Lam AND FUsE-fiEsriNe DEVICE.-

inoafmo.l

Patented sept. i', i914..

Application led May 8, 1912. Serial No. 695,859.

T0 all whom it may Concern:

Be it known that I, CHARILS W. Miron-d nm.. a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough ot Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Testing-'Lam .and Fusel`esting Device, of which the ollowing is ay full, clear, and exact description.

L'lhs invention relates to improvements in testing devices, and has for an object to provide an improved testing construction W ich may be adjusted or re-arranged to accommodateivarying circumstances,` and for testing conductors of electric circuits under varying conditions. v

Another object of the invention Nis toprovide an improved testing structure which may at one time be used in series with' a circuit and at another time in multiple series.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a testing device arranged with lamps and connecting means therefor terminating in contact members, these structures. except the contact members, being inclosed in a telescoping housing. one of the Contact membersl being connected to one part of the housingI and the other of the contact members being connected to the other part of the housing, so that the contact members may be'adjusted for engaging conductors spaced apart Within predetermined limits.

In carrying `out the objects of the inven` tion, a housing,l or a'pair of housings' if desired, are arranged to accommodate a 'plurality of lamps of a standard voltage. his housing is'provided with a telescoping cap or cover which covers and' protects the lam s' but does not inl any way interfere with t e movement ofthe contacts carried thereby.

In fact the telescoping cover is `designed to permit the adjustment of one of the contacts of the testing lamps, the other contact being mounted stationary on the housing. The lamps are connected together in series with one terminal connected tothe stationary contact and the opposite terminal connected to the movablccontact', whereby the contacts may be adjusted` for engagingconductors positioned various distances apart.' By re` moving the fuse which connects the two lamps in the housing,andsubstituting suitable wiring connectedwitl'i the lamps, the lamps may be connected in multiple series withany circuit or electrical conductor for testing the same.

A. practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings A bodiment of the invention ;,F ig. `2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the structure shown 1n Fig.' 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan viewof the structure shown in Fig. 2,'the

bottom cover being removed; Fig. t isa fragmentary sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2, the same being shown on a slightly l enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a A'diagidram showingy the wiring .of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. G is a diagram showing ythe device connected in multiple" series toa coil which is'being tested; Fig. 7 is a'sectional view similarto Fig. 2 except that the same shows'a slightly modified form of the invention; and Fig. 8 is a section through Fig. 7

substantially on the line 8 8, certain parts being removed.

',Referring'to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a housing provided with a bottom cover 2 and a telescoping cap 3. A plate 4 is positioned near thebottom of the housing 1, which is held in place by any suitable means, as for instance screws.

The housing 1, cover 2 cap 3, and plate 41 are all preferably made4 from insulating material, as for vinstance liber. The bottom cover 2 is freely removable but is normally held inposition by aI screw 5 which clamps the cover rmlyto the housing 1. Arranged in the housing 1 are a pair of' sockets 6 and 7,

held in place by suitable screws 8 and 9, and also by screws 10 and 11, the screws 8 and 9 .being insulated from the sleeves llyand 12 of the sockets 6 and 7. The screw 11 is connected to screw 8 by a suitablefusel. Connected with the screw 9 is a conductor 14: which is in turn connected to a switch socket 15 designed to receive a knife 16. Connected to the. knife 16 is a conductor 17 which is also connected by a suitable nut to the contact 18. The mit 1S) which connects the conductor 17 to the contact 18 not only accomplishes this be moved back and forth as ythe cap is ad# justed The contact 18 is provided with a i y contact point .20 `*which isthreaded at its lower part for accommodatng a nut 21. The nut 21 is adaptedto receive a conductor when the space'between contacts 18v and 22 is too great to be spanned by the device in the. position shown in Figs. 1 and'2. vAn.

insulating sleeve 23 is provided which surrounds the shaft 24. and prevents any accidental engagement with the metallic part of lthe contact. The contact 22 is formed in asimilar manner to the contact 18 and will therefore need no additional description. The contact 22 is connected by a conductor 25 to the screw l0. y g

When the various devices are connected up yas justdescribed, and the contacts 22 and 18 are in engagement with opposite sides of a ,circuit in whichcurrent is flowing, part-of thecurrent will pass for instance through contact .22, wire 25, screw 10, the shell or sleeve 11', lamp 26, screw 8, fuse 13, screw '11, sleeve or shell 12, lamp 27, screw 9 con.-

ductor' 14, switch socket 15, and `knife 16,.

conductor 17, to Contact' 18, andfrom thence back to thesource of supply. In orderto properly observe the lamps 26 and 27, the

housing 1 is provided with an aperture 28` which is adapted to register with an aperture 29 in theicap 3. A similar opening 30 side of the device so as to observe the action of both lamps simultaneously. Thisis veryV is providedsubstantiallyl centrally of 'the desirable where the -deviceis connected up in multlple series, as 1n thls case one lampmay light and the other lamp may remaln C unlighted. It will be evident that the'cap 3 may 'be easily removed whenever desired by a longitudinal movement thereof. If the cap, 3 is completely removed the knife 16 "may be easily pulledoutof its socket 1.5 so

thatin removing the cap neinjury will be done and the device may be re-assembled Without any` connecting of wires or other operations except the placing of the knife 16 in its socket 15.

in its usual form an In Figs. 7 and 8 will be vseen a slightly modified form of the invention, in which the housing 31 and 32 are provided formed so as to independently inclose the lamps 26 and .50

intended to act not only as a cap, but as an extension member for the contact 18 in a similar manner to the cap 3. Aside from the'shape of the cap 34 and the fact that the same surrounds only the housing 32, the

construction. and operationfis the same as ycap 3 and therefore` will need no additional description. This constructionis designed to cheapen. and somewhat simplify the device.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, an arrangement ofthe device is resented which permits the connection o the device in 4series` toA an electrical instrument indicated 35.

When the arrangement vshown in Fig. 6 is designed to be' used connecting wires 42, 43,

46, and 49 are connected to `the screws 8` tol 11 inclusive, and the'fuse. 13 is removed.

The coil 35 is connected by wires `36 and 37 to a switch 38 inv the usual manner. The switch 38 is connected at 39 and 40 to an ordinary three wire system which hasv the usual' neutral wire grounded at 41. A wire 42 is provided which extends from screw 11` to one side of theswitch 38 and a wire 43.is connected with screw 9 and extendsto the point44 which is at one of the` terminals of the coil 35, the wire 37 being disconnected 35, the wire 36 being 'disconnected and .I

moved to one side, as shown in dotted lines at 48. wire 49 which is also connected to the switch 38 on the side opposite Wire 42. After these connections have been made the current is. turned on by closing the4 switch 38y and if the coil 35 is grounded, both of the lamps will be lighted. Under these conditions, if the coil 35`is grounded as indicated by'wire 50, current will ow from the switch 38 through lamp 27, through part of the coil 35, andI from thence to the-ground through Wire 50. The current vwill also iow at the same time from the switch 38 through wire 49, lamp 26, wire 46, and part of the coil 35, and from thence to the ground through 'wire 50. In this way the fact that the Vcoil 35 is grounded is ascertained, but the'exact point of grounding is not known, butl this may be found in the'usual manner at the repair shop or by an examination of the coil.

It is evident of course that the testing de y The screw 10 has connected therewith a' vice embodying the invention-is designed to test an electrical conductor of any kind provided the 'same is disconnected from other sources of wiring. Itznay befus'cd for testing'for a closed circuit, 'an open circuit, or

a ground, the illustrationmerely showing the way the device is connected up for test-l i ing 'for a ground. i

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentkf,

l. In a testing device of the class described, the combination with ahousing, a;

for connecting one sidel of said signal device to said contact, a telescoping cover for saidv housing, and a contact connected with said telescoping cover, of a flexible wire connecting said contact with the opposite side of said signal devices to said first mentioned contact, the telescoping cover permitting the ready adjustment of the distance between said contacts, and said exible means maintaining a continuous circuit.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a housing, lamps positioned in said housing, means for connecting the lamps in series, a contact `member connectedl with one side of said lamps and carried by said housing, a telescoping cap for said housing anda contact carried thereby, of means for connecting said lastmentioned contact with said lamp adapted to permit a free reciprocation of said cap for permitting a variation of the distance between sai contacts, said means including a socket rigidly secured to said housing, a knife removably fitting into said socket, and a iexible conductor connecting said knife and the contact mounted on said cap.

3.A In a testing device of the character described, a pair of lamps, a base for supporting said lamps, side by side, a housing secured to said base formed with a window in a plane between said lamps, a telescoping cap tting over said housing formed with a window registering with the window insaid housing, a contact member secured to said housing, means for connecting one side of said lamps to said contactl member, a contact member secured to said cap, flexible means connectin said last mentioned contact with said amps, said iexible means permitting a back and forth movement of said cap without breaking the circuit, and said windows insaid cap and said housing permitting a view simultaneously of both of said lamps.

4. In a testing device ofthe character described, a pairiof lamps, means for connecty,ing the same in series, a housing for inclosing said lamps, a contact member secured to said housing, means for connecting said contact member with one side of said lamps, said housing being formed with a window, a

two subscribing wi'tn ma:

cap formed with a window and a slot, said cap fitting over said housing and adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof, said slot accommodating said" contact member and said window co-acting with the window in said housing for disclosing to view said lamps, a contact member mounted on `said cap, and a exible wire for connecting said contact member with said lamps regardless of the position of the contact member.

5. In a testing device of the character described, a pair of lamps, a socket for each lamp, a housing for said lamps, a base member for supporting said sockets spaced from the end of said housing whereby a large and small compartment is provided, said lamps occupying said large compartment, clamping means extendin through said base member from said smal er compartment and engaging said sockets for holding the same in position, said clamping members acting as terminals for the opposite sides of each of said lamps, a cover for the end of said housing carrying said base member,l a fuse connecting some of said clamping members for connecting the .lamps in sries, a `contact member rigidly secured to said housing, means for connecting said contact member with one of said clam ing. members, a socket secured 'to the housing at the upper end thereof, means for enibly connecting said socket with one of the terminals of' said lamps whereby currententering saidcontact member must pass th ough both of said lamps and said socket, -a telesco ing cover for said housing, a contact mem r 4rigidly connected with said telescoping cover, a knife removably engaging said socket, and means for connecting said knife and the contact member carried b said cap, said means being Iiexible and a a ted to permit a longitudinal back and fort movement of said cap without 'causi the withdrawal of said knife from said soc et.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of CHARLES?. MITCHELL.

Witnesses: .d

l= 1 W. LANSING. 

